Automatic nipple threading machine



Oct. 4, 1932. w. A. JENKINS AUTOMATIC NIPPLE THREADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet cj 71 [vi 715.

Oct. 4, 1932. w. A. JENKINS 1,880,391

AUTOMATIC NIPPLE THREADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15; 1928 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 4, 1932. w. A. JENKINS 1,330,391

AUTOMATIC NIPPLE THREADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hlllllllllllllll lllillllllillllllllllll Oct. 4, 1932.

W. A JENKINS AUTOMATIC NIPPLE THREADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 I 9 O O O I n M: i. n J 8 1| H a 6 2 2 3 2 1. Q 1 1 1 m n 0 w m Oct. 4, 1932. w; A. JENKINS 1,889,391

AUTOMATIC NIPPLE THREADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1928 e Sheets-Sheet 5 w. A. JENKINS 1,880,391

AUTOMATIC NIPPLE THREADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 .WILLIAM A. JENKINS, F WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC N IPZPLE THREADIN G MACHINE Application filed February 13,1928; Serial No. 253,959.

- 'Myinvention relates to an automatic nipple threading machine and has for its-prim cipal object, the provision of a relatively simple and practical machine'that"may'be effective'and economically employed for simultaneously cutting threads onboth endsof nipples and the operation "of which machine be entirey automatic.

Further objects Ofmy-inventiofrflare, to 1;) provide an automatic nipple threading machine that may be operated with comparatively little power and which will very rapidly and accurately accomplish the work of simultaneously threading both ends of nip- 7 ples; further, to provide in a machine of the character referred to, simple: and eflici'ent means for very firmly clamping or gripping the nipples upon theirinner surfaces, wl'1ile the end portions of the nipples are being externally threaded; further, to provide a nippie threading machine that has a wide range of adjustments in orderth'at nipples of'd ifferentsizes may be threaded; further, to provide a mac'hine of the character described witlrsimple and positively actingmeans for feeding the nipples into position to be en gaged by the gripping members and the threading dies.

A further object of my invention, is to provide in a nipple threading machine, relatively simple means for automatically reversing the rotation of the-threadi-ng dies-so th'at 'the same will-withdraw from the nipple after the same has beenthreaded, and further,-to

" provide simple means thatacts automatically for retracting the nipple'engagi-ngandholding means after the withdrawal of the thread cutting dies.

With the foregoing and other objects'in view, my invention consists'in'certain novel features of construction andarrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimedand illustrated in the ac- '-i.' oompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View. of the nipple threading machine.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 33, of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the :arrows.

Fig. 4 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken :on line H of F igs. 1', 2 and 3, looking in the direction indicated by'the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a View analagous to Fig. 4 taken on line 5- 5, of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

I Fig. 6 is a top plan view with parts re- Fovod to show other parts not visible in Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view taken on line 7-7,Tof Figs. 1, 2 and 8, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the nipple feeding mechanism, taken on line 8-8,- of Figs. 1 and 7 F ig. 9' is a diagrammatic view of the transmission of the machine.

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Fig. 7, showing the nipple feeding mechanism in different positions assumed during the operation of the machine.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are fro'ntelevations of the machine on a reduced scale, showing the cycle of operation of the automatic nipple threading machine.

Referring by numerals to "thedrawings,

10- designates the frame of-the machine and consists of legs11 supporting a top 12 having rails 13 thereon, upon which blocks let-and are'sli-dably mounted. The blocks 14 and 15 are of'thesame construction and serve to carry die heads 16 holding chasers -17. The die heads 16 are removablysecured tothe innerends of sleeves 18 mounted in anti-friction bearings 19 carried by housing 20 of the blocks 14; and 15.

: The blocks 14 and 15 are adapted tormove toward each other during threading of a nipple, and in opposite directions while the when the clutch 37 is engaged dies are being removed from the threaded nipple, this movement is effected by a screw 21 having right hand threads 22 and left hand threads 23, which are threaded into nuts 24 secured to the underside of the blocks 14 and 15, the screw being mounted in bearings 25 and 26 carried by the frame 10.

The machine as disclosed is constructed to cut right hand threads simultaneously on each end of a nipple. In order to cut right hand threads on each end of the nipple it is necessary to rotate the die headsin opposite directions. The die heads are rotated by gears 28 and 29 respectively keyed to the hollow shafts in the blocks 14 and 15 and mesh with gears 30 and 31 slidably' keyed to a main drive shaft 32 and a counter shaft 33 respectively rotated in opposite directions by meshlng gears 34 and 35 of equal diameter carried by said shafts.

The shafts 32 and 33 are mounted in bearings 36 carried by the frame 10 and terminate within clutches 37 and 38, which are driven by short shafts 40 and 41 mounted in bearings 41' formed in the frame 10.

Transmission of the machine is arranged as follows Referring to Fig. 9 a drive pulley 42 is secured to a shaft 43 which carries a gear 44 meshing with an idler 45 which meshes with a large gear 46 secured to the outer end of the shaft 40. The gear 46 meshes with an idler 47, which in turn meshes with a small gear 48 secured to the outer end of the shaft 41.

The screw is rotated by a small gear 32 on an extension 32 of the main drive shaft 32 which meshes with a large gear 21 on the same screw 21.

The shafts 32 and 33 carry shifting clutch elements 50 and 51, which are adapted to engage the elements of the clutches 37 and 38, screwed to the shaft 40 and 41 and are actuated by clutch shifters 52 and 53, connected i to rock shafts 54 and 55 mounted in suitable bearings 56 and extend outside of the frame 10. It is necessary that the clutches 37 and 38 be alternately engaged to impart proper rotation to the shafts 32 and 33, for instance the clutch 38 is disengaged.

The clutch shifters are actuated by a series of links and levers connected together as follows :A downwardly extending lever 58 is connected to the rock shaft 54 and an upwardly extending lever 59 is connected to the rock shaft 55. A rock shaft 60 extends lengthwise of the machine, the outer ends of which extend outside of the frame 10 and has a downwardly extending lever 61 connected to it which is also connected by a link 62 to the lever 59.

A lever 64 of a tripping device generally designated at 65 is secured to the outer end of the rock shaft 60 and serves to actuate and hold the shifting elements 50 and 51 of the clutches 37 and 38 alternately in and out of engagement with the elements of the clutches fixed to the shafts 40- and 41. A link 66 is connected to the lower end of the lever 64 i and to the lever 58. A tappet 67 is pivotally connected to the frame 10 at 68 and is also connected to the lever 64 by link 69. The lever 64 of the tripping device 65 is normally held in a tilted position by a tube 70 partially filled with mercury set at right angles and mounted on the upper end of the lever 64.

A bracket 7'2 is secured to the block 15 and carries a threaded push rod 73, which is adjustable by a nut 74 between ears 75 on the bracket. The push rod is provided for actuating the tripping device as follows :-As a nipple is being threaded the blocks 14 and 15 move toward each other. The clutch 50 is engaged and the clutch 51 is disengaged and remain so until the tappet 67 is engaged by the push rod 7 3, which in turn through the medium of the link 69 will swing the lever 64 of the tripping device from a tilted to a vertical position, as the block 15 continues to move forward the lever will be overbalanced at the moment it is carried past vertical center of the rock shaft 60, due to the mercury in the tube seeking a level, the action of which will quickly tilt the lever 64 and reverse the engagement of the clutches.

. A nipple to be threaded is normally held internally against rotation and in alinement with the dies 17 by pins and 81 having tapered ends 82, presenting a plurality of V sharp edges 82 which engage the inner walls of the nipple. The pins 80 and 81 are threaded into the ends of plungers 84 and 85, whichextend through thesleeves 18 of the blocks 14 and 15. The plungers 84 and 85 are round and are formed integral with square shafts 86 which extend through square openings 87 formed in the side walls 89 of housings 90 and 91 mounted on opposite ends of the frame-10. The square shafts serve to hold the pins 80 and 81 against rotation. The plungers are urged toward each other by retractible coil springs 92 and 93, the inner ends of which are secured to the side walls of the housings 90, the other ends being secured to brackets 94 mounted on the square shafts 86 and held in place thereon by set screws 94. The inward movement of the plungers is limited by collars 95 held in place by set screws 96. The brackets 94 have downwardly extending portions 97 having openings therein through which extend rods 98 that are locked to the parts 97 by set screws 98% Rods 98 are slidably mounted and heldin horizontal alinementin openings 99 in the side walls of the housings 90 and 91.

Tubes 100 are screw threaded into the blocks 14 and 15 and carry brackets 101 having bearings 102 through which spindles 103 extend and upon which are fastened cams 104.

.zThe cams 1041 havearms -105:extendingzup- 90 and 91. The.cams 104 are screw threaded into the walls of-thehousings heldin position -1 to engage the bumpers 106 by retractile -push rods-97 through 'thelbrackets '98 con-' hnected to the shafts 86,.hence it will be seen that1-when the blocks 14 and. 15.1no've'apart' the plungers 84 and 85 will: also move after the cams 104 engage the ends of the rodsr98.

1 1 .An automatic nipple feeding mechanism is' rovided-com risin 'atrou 'h mounted p 2:: C

on theupper end of standards 111 :secured .toa support 112 secured to the rear end of thesframe' 10. The trough is slightly in- 1 iclined and is adapted to hold unthreaded nipples andhas an opening 113 at its forward :end through which the nipples in the trough drop into atransferring device. generally designated at 114. The transferringdevice consists ofa rectangular bar.

115 slidably mounted in a groove 116 of a block 117 secured to the standards 111 byscrews or bolts *118. .Anextension 119 is carried by "the-bar 115'and' has an ofiset .120 having teeth 121 which togetherwith a gate 122 form a breach from the trough .110.

designated at B, for receivingthe nipples The ga te 122 is normally urged toward the 1 jaw by a retractile spring 123. The gate 122 is pivotally mounted by a pin 124 and its inner movement is limited by a stop pin 125. A door 126 pivotallymounted on a p1n 127 extending throughthe sidewalls of trough "11O and isadjustably mounted for various size nipples by anarm 128 engaging a curved bracket129 secured toltrough and held in place by a bolt 128a, extendingthrough aslot in the bracket.

. A nipple ejector generally designated at i: 130 is pivotally mounted at 131 to a rigid extension 132 secured to the forward end of block 114. -The nipple ejector has a curved upwardly projecting arm 133, whichis adapted-to engageand ejwtthe nipples from the machines after the pins 80 and 81-have been retracted. The ejector is normally held in horizontal alignment with the-extension 132 A by a leafspring 134 secured-to theextension 132- with its free end 135 engaging the under-- side of the ejector 130. Y

The bar 115 has arack 136 formed on one J side engaged by a pinion '137-secured to a shaft 138 extending through a bearing 139 mounted on the block 117, and a bearing 140 *mounted on across bar 141=secured to the sup- 1 port 112. A bevel gear 142 is-secured to the 1 1 lower 'end of the shaft 138- and meshes with :abevel'gear- 143- having hub 144forming a V "part of automatic clutch 145. wardly therefrom swhich are engaged. :by

bumpers 106 adjustablymounted on pins 107 arms 105 and to I will continue to though the shaft 1 system consisting of a pump The bevel gear 143 iskeyed to .a-shaft 146, which extends lengthwise of theframe 110 and is mounted in bearings. 1 47 carried by theside walls 148 of Lthe support 112. The hub- 144 of the gear 143 has aplurality of grooves 149 which receives tongues 150 formed on acollar 151, which is -slidablykeyed to the shaft 146. The collar =151=is normally held in engagement with the 1 hub 1435 by.

an expansion coil which also holds the bevel pinions in mesh.

The spring is of sufiicient tension and the tongue 150 engaging the groove 1149 are of su ilicient. abrupt-ness to cause rotation ofithe shaft 138. However, when the bar 115 reaches the limit of its movement in either direction the shaft 146 may continue to rotate as the tongue 150 will move out of the'g'rooves spring 153,

149 against the action of the spring-153, and

engage and disengage al- 138 isheld against rotation.

The movement of the block 115 is adjustably limited by screws 154 and 155 extending through mountings 156 and 157, respectively carried at each end of the block 115 by engagement with the faces of the block 117.

Rotation of the shaft 146 is provided by a sprocket 160 on the shaft 146 and a sprocket 161 on the feed screw over which a chain 162 extends, there being an opening 163 formed in the frame 101' to allow passage of the chain from the sprocket 161 to the sprocket 160. The dies may be lubricated by'an oiling an eccentric 165 carried by the screw 21.

'A pipeline 166 extends from the pump to a T-fitting 167 from which are carried flexible hose or pipes 168 to pipes 169 screwed into the housings of the blocks 14 and 15, there being outlet pipes 170 extending from the TS 171 carried by pipes 169, which discharge oil onto the dies for lubrication While the nippleis being threaded. The pump is mounted in a pump tank 172 carried by a 1 drain trough 173 secured-to the frame 10.

The operation of the nipple threading machine is as. follows: The pulley 42 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 180, which through the idlers 45 and '47 will cause the gears 46 and 48 to rotate in the same direction when the clutch 50 is engaged and the clutch 51 is disengaged as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Hence power istransmitted directly to the main drive shaft 32 carrying the gear 34 which in turn causes the gear 35 and'shaft 33 to rotate in the opposite direction.

1 Rotation ofthe gears 34 and 35 meshing 'with the gears 30 and 31will cause the stocks 16 and dies 17 in'the blocks 14 and 15 to ro-* tate in opposite directions, respectively throughthe gears 28 and 29. The blocks are simultaneously moved together by the screw 21which; is rotated by the gears 21a meshing with the gear32b.

164 operated by As -shown in Figs. 1, .2

and 3, a nipple is in a position to be threaded. As the blocks 14 and 15 move together the push rod 7 3 will engage the tappet 67 and at the interval when the nipple has been threaded the trip device 65 will be tilted into the position of which will reverse the clutches, that is the clutch will be engaged and clutch 50 dis engaged, the action of which will cause a reversal of the rotation of the shafts 32 and 33 and the screw 21 which will move the blocks 1& and 15 apartand at the same time cause the stocks and dies to unscrew from the threads previously formed. The dies 17 are quickly removed from the threaded nipple due to the shafts 32 and 33 having rotated at a higher speed when the clutch .38

, 1s engaged.

When the nipple is being threaded, as previously described, the block 115 of the nipple feeding mechanism will be in the position shown in Fig. 7, and will have received a nipple in the breach B.

lVhen the nipple is being unthreaded it will bring another nipple in'the place shown in Figs. 11 and 13. NVhile the dies 17 are being unscrewed from a threaded nipple, the

ejector 130 will engage the nipple as shown in Fig. 8, and exert pressure on it until the pins and 81 have been retracted or moved apart as shown in Fig. 13 at which time the threaded nipple will be removed and another brought into place as shown in Fig. 11.

The blocks let and 15 continue to move apart until they reach the position shown in Fig. 14: during which time the arms will have engaged the bumpers 106 and tilted the cam 104:, which will allow the rod 109 to slide under it, thereby allowing the pins 80 and 81 to grip the nipple which has been delivered by the feeding mechanism. See Figs. 11' and 14. V

During the interval when the nipple is being threaded rotation of screw 21 will cause the shaft 138 through the chain 162 and sprockets 160 and 161 to move the block from the position shown in the Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 7. As the block is moved back the gate 122 will be tilted by engagement with the nipple, which .has been gripped by the pins and pass under it, this movement being permitted by its pivotal mounting and will be restored tonormal position as soon as it passes under the nipple by the action of the spring 123. The ejector will also pass under the nipple in a like manner and be restored to normal position by the spring 134. The above operations are continually repeated and no attention is required on the part of the operator, except to keep the trough filled with nipples.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved automatic nipple threading machine may be made andsubshown in Fi 12 the movement stituted for those herein shown and described vention, the scope of which isset forth in the appended claims.

I claim, as my invention 1. In a nipple threading machine, a pair of nonrotating aligned coaxial plungers mounted for sliding movement toward and away from each other, pins removably seated in the inner ends of said plungers, the outer 3 ends of which pins are diamond shaped and provided with sharp inclined edges that are adapted to engage the inner edges within the ends of an interposed nipple, sleeves loosely mounted on the inner portions of said coaxial plungers, thread cutting dies removably mounted on the inner ends of said sleeves, gear wheels carried by said sleeves, a shaft, pinions carried by said shaft and engaging said gear wheels, means including a pair of clutches for reversing the rotary motion. of said shaft, bearings in whch the sleeves are journaled, a shaft having right and left hand screw threads that respectively engage said bearings, means for rotating said shaft first in one direction and then in the other direction and automaticallyacting means cooperating with the last mentioned shaft rotating means for simultaneously moving the non-r0 tating plungers toward and away from each other and in proper time relation to the reverse rotary movements imparted to thedie carrying sleeves.

2. In a nipple threading machine, a pair of A nonrotating aligned coaxial plungers mount ed for sliding movement toward and away from each other, pins removably seated in the inner ends of said plungers, the outer endsof which pins are diamond shaped and provided with sharp inclined edges that are adapted to engage the inner edges within the ends of an interposed nipple, sleeves loosely mounted on the inner portions of said coaxial plungers, thread cutting dies removably mounted on the inner ends of said sleeves;

gear wheels carried by said sleeves, a shaft, pinions carried by said shaft and engaging said gear wheels, means including a pair of clutches for reversing the rotary motion of said shaft, bearings in which the sleeves are i journaled, a shaft having right and left hand mined point in its travel.

, 3. In a nipple threading machine, a frame, a pair of fixed bearings on the outer ends thereof, a pair of bearing blocks arranged for sliding movement toward and away from Lea ed-1" each other on the intermediate portion of said frame between said bearings, a shaft having right and left hand threaded portions that respectively engage said sliding bearing blocks, means for rotating said shaft first in one direction and then in the other direction, sleeves journaled for rotation in said bearing blocks, thread cutting dies removably carried by the inner ends of said sleeves, means for simultaneously rotating said sleeves first in one direction and then in the other direction, nonrotating plungers arranged for sliding movement through the bearings on the ends of the frame through said sleeves and nipple engaging pins projecting from the inner ends of said nonrotating members, springs for yieldingly resisting the movement of said nonrotating members away from each other and automatically acting means for connecting said non-rotating plungers to said slidingblocks during a portion of their travel away from each other.

4. In a nipple threading machine, a frame, a pair of fixed bearings on the outer ends thereof, a pair of blocks arranged for sliding movement toward and away from each other on the intermediate portion of said frame between said bearings, a shaft having right and left hand threaded portions that respectively engage said sliding blocks, means for rotating said shaft first in one direction and then in the other direction, sleeves journaled for rotaton in said blocks, thread cutting di-es removably carried by the inner ends of said sleeves, means for simultaneously rotating said sleeves first in one direction and then in the other direction, nonrotating members arranged for sliding movement through the hearings on the ends of the frame, and through said sleeves, nipple engaging pins projecting from the inner ends of said nonrotating members, means for automatically connecting the nonrotating members to the sliding blocks so that said blocks and nonrotating members will move synchronously with each other during a part of their travel and means for automatically releasing said connecting means.

5. In a nipple threading machine, a frame, a pair of fixed hearings on the outer ends thereof, a pair of blocks arranged for sliding movement toward and away from each other on the intermediate portion of said frame between said bearings, a shaft having right and left hand threaded portions that respectively engage said sliding blocks, means for rotating said shaft first in one direction and then in the other direction, sleeves journaled for rotation in said blocks, thread cutting dies removably carried by the inner ends of said sleeves, means for simultaneously rotating said sleeves first in one direction and then in the other direction, nonrotating plungers arranged for sliding movement through the bearings on the ends of the frame and throughsaid sleeves, springs connected to said plungers for normally drawing the same toward each other, adjustable means for limiting the movement of said plungers toward each other, and nipple engaging pins project ing from the inner ends of said nonrotating plungers," the outer ends of which pins are provided with diamond shaped points having sharp inclined edges for engaging the inner edges of the ends of an interposed nipple,

means for automatically connecting the nonrotating plungers to the sliding blocks so that said blocks and nonrotating members will move synchronously with each other during ing the same toward and away from each other, sleeves journaled in said blocks, means for simultaneously rotating said sleeves, thread cutting dies removably arranged on the inner ends of said sleeves, non-rotating plungers arranged for sliding movement through said sleeves and through the bearings on the outer ends of the frame, nipple engaging pins projecting from the inner ends of said plungers the outer ends of said pins being provided with diamond shaped points having sharp inclined edges adapted to engage the inner edges of the ends of an inter posed nipple, rods connected to said plungers and arranged for sliding movement in the bearings below the plungers, clutches moun ed on the blocks for automatically engaging said sliding rods and holding the same against movement in one direction, brackets connecting said plungers and sliding rods and springs connected to said brackets for yieldingly resisting the sliding movement of the plungers and rods away from each other.

7. In a nipple threading machine, a frame, a pair of bearings on the ends thereof, a pair of blocks arranged for sliding movement on the frame between said bearings, a shaft having right and left hand threaded portions engaging said blocks for simultaneously moving the same toward and away from each other, sleeves journaled in said blocks, means for simultaneously rotating said sleeves,

thread cutting dies removably arranged on the inner ends of said sleeves, non-rotating plungers arranged for sliding movement through said sleeves and through the bearings on the outer ends of the frame, nipple engaging pins projecting from the inner ends of said plungers, rods arranged for sliding movement in the bearings below the plungers,

clutches mounted on the blocks for engaging said sliding rods and holding the same against sliding movement in one direction,

brackets connecting said plungers and sliding rods, springs connected to said brackets for yieldingly resisting the sliding movement of the plungers and rods away from each other,

stops adjustably mounted on the outer ends of the plungers for engaging the bearings on theends of the frame to limit the inward movement of said plungers and adjustable means mounted on the outer portions of said non-rotating plungers for positively limiting their movement toward each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM A. JENKINS. 

